Korea's IMTV launches multi-season series based on Lisa See's novel "The Island of Sea Women" about the matriarchal society of free divers (EXCLUSIVE)

A Korean independent production house, IMTV is developing and producing a drama series based on the best of The New York Times - selling novel, "The Island of the Sea Women" by Lisa See.

The story takes place largely on the remote Korean island of Jeju, among the community of "haenyo", women who make a living by snorkeling in search of molluscs, algae and other marine life from the depths of the ocean.

Representatives of a rare semi-matriarchal society, women work while men generally stay at home house, although ownership is passed along male lines.

Famous activist and Nobel laureate Malala recently embarked on a documentary project about Jeju haenyo which takes place at the independent American studio A24.

The fully documented, yet fictionalized story of See is an evocative tale of two best friends whose the bonds are both strengthened and tested for decades by forces beyond their control. The best-selling author ("Snow Flower and the Secret Fan," "The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane") is expected to stay with the project as a consultant.

IMTV is currently in post-production on a dystopian sci-fi series for Netflix with the title of work "Goodbye Earth. It begins Yoo Ah-In and Ahn Eun-jin and is directed by Kim Jin-Min ("My Name", "Extracurricular"). The show is adapted from the novel by Kotaro Isaka, who also wrote the book behind Sony Pictures' recent "Bullet Train".

IMTV is currently recruiting writers for "The Island of Sea Women" and plans to produce the series with a streaming platform.

"When we spoke to them, streaming companies saw parallels with 'Pachinko' which gave momentum for this kind of historical epic,” Joseph Jang, IMTV's global content manager, told Variety at the Busan International Film Festival. ."

"We see this as a beautiful and incredible human drama. Friendship across generations. It's all about of redemption, forgiveness and hope. It has the potential to have a very great impact as it places the "haenyos" of Jeju in the context of the historic struggles, prejudices and atrocities faced by the islanders, ranging from the Japanese occupation to the Korean War,” Jang said.

"I think Malala's documentary project is great for us, because there's no had a lot of content outside of Korea, about haenyo, Jeju or the whole culture of these amazing women snorkeling in the ocean,” Jang said.

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